Friday Foreplay – Gameweek 36

Now to pick our toppings for the double scoop of Gameweek 36. Choices include captain picks, big hitters, clean sheets, and punts. Also, a sweet analogy.

Double Gameweek

The last double Gameweek of the season is upon us. Tottenham, Chelsea, Swansea, Wigan, West Brom, and Manchester City play two games in Gameweek 36.

Hopefully you have either been planning for this double Gameweek for a few weeks, or are sporting a shiny Wildcard, as you must go into the Gameweek with a minimum of three double-fixture players to compete.

The safe choices are from Tottenham and Wigan, both teams that have something to play for, while the risks lie in City’s and Chelsea’s players. West Brom and Swansea have little to play for which should normally mean that major returns are unlikely for players from those teams.

If you are leading in your mini-league a risk-averse strategy is to play and captain Bale and get in players that are held in major numbers. Mata, Hazard, and Michu are typical targets.

Should you be chasing the opposite strategy applies. Consider captaining Aguero, Lukaku, or even a Wigan player to differentiate. It’s risky, but you have to somehow gain ground on your mini-league leader.

Captain Picks

Bale: The obvious captain pick this Gameweek is Tottenham’s Bale, the newly crowned PFA player of the year. His recent form is just ridiculous, as he has averaged 10.7 Fantasy points in his last ten games, by courtesy of scoring 10 goals and providing 5 assists. He will be the most captained player so the only reason not to pick Bale is if you are in desperate need to differentiate.

Aguero: Aguero has disappointed this season, with only 11 goals in 27 appearances, after a great first season where he scored 23 goals in 34 matches. Nevertheless, he possesses quality in abundance which he showed with a goal last game where he came through unscathed after coming back from injury. He’s a risky pick but one that could reap huge rewards.

Mata: The diminutive Spaniard has enjoyed a fruitful Fantasy season with Chelsea, amassing 6 goals, 16 assists, and 24 bonus points in 32 games. He’s been remarkably consistent, delivering attacking returns in five of his last six games. Despite facing Manchester United and Tottenham, Mata is a good pick as he has already shown he can deliver against the big boys with goals and assists against Arsenal, Tottenham, and Manchester United this season.

Heavy Hitters

Hazard and Lampard will be the most popular Chelsea picks apart from Mata. Hazard has enjoyed several explosive returns this season, although with less consistency than Mata. Lampard has defied expectations with yet another double-digit goal returns, thanks in part to his penalty duties. Lampard is a tougher sell than Hazard, as he could very well be rested in either game in anticipation of the Europa League final on the 15th of May.

Tevez, Silva, Nasri, and Yaya Toure all present cases to be included in the heavy hitters. Tevez is the obvious pick, Nasri because of his recent form, Toure due to his guaranteed playing time and attacking threat, and Silva as a consequence of his amazing last season and intermittent glimpses of quality this season. As with Chelsea, City players face rotation risk with the League being already decided and having an FA Cup final against Wigan to consider.

Lukaku is the obvious choice from West Brom, although Morrison is a decent shout for a value midfielder. The risk of choosing Lukaku is Steve Clarke’s propensity to rest him in difficult away games, but if he starts he is a major threat as he has delivered attacking returns in five of his last six games.

Kone and Maloney are the picks of the bunch from a Wigan team that will be desperate for wins. Both are cheap picks in comparison to the likes of Bale and Aguero, but also much less likely to deliver explosive returns.

Michu is the obvious target from Swansea. He is even a cheeky outside captain pick, if you want to take a risk.

Looking away from the double fixture teams, interesting prospects include Carroll at home against a faltering Newcastle defence, Walcott against a down-in-the-dumps QPR, and Benteke away at Norwich.

Clean Sheets

Manchester City’s Joe Hart should play both games and is likely to register at least one clean sheet.

Vertonghen has returned decent attacking points this season which gives the edge over Dawson in games that Tottenham are unlikely to register two clean sheets. Of course this only applies if you have the extra funds to cover the 2.3 price difference between the players.

Wigan face two teams that have nothing left to play for. This increases the chance that they keep clean sheets with Boyce the likely popular choice after his goal last Gameweek.

Punts

Oscar is the question mark in Chelsea’s double Gameweek. He is capable of delivering as his goals in the last two Gameweeks show.

Defoe is deadly on his day, but they have been too few and far between this season. Still, he’s a fine punt as Tottenham need wins to secure the Champions League spot.

Another Tottenham player to consider is Dempsey, especially if Villas-Boas plays his 4-3-3 setup, giving the American more freedom to attack.